My Baby Musk Turtles! =]

[diamondwolf130]

Hi everyone. I've had my baby musks for around 3-4 weeks now and they are both fit and healthy, on a good diet of pellets, bloodworm and the occasional bit of chicken, beef or egg. The only problem is they don't seem to be using the whole of the tank. Eg. Musk Turtles are supposed to be 'Bottom Walkers' but my turtles don't seem to walk on the bottom at all! I've tried lower water levels and everything but they just don't walk along the bottom.

They seem to be obsessed with a tree decoration I bought them after about a week of owning them. They spend about 80-90% of their time clinging to the tree with their heads out of the water.
Is this normal behaviour?
Or could it be that they do not like the rest of the tank?
Or that they are totally obsessed with this tree?
I have tried many different setups but the tree remains to be their obsession.
This is my current setup.











Can anybody think why they are being like this? Or suggest improvements to the tank? Please help!
Thankyou!!

[Fozz]

Your tank doen't look very big, what size is it??....

This behaviour is normal of all my musks, my new baby was obsessed with the bogwood, sitting on it all day with his head out the water...... Now I've made the water deeper he just enjoys floating around on the cuttlefish bone.....
When I'm up at night they are alot more active, swimming/walking around the tank alot more......

[diamondwolf130]

Thanks for your reply Fozz!
My tank isn't big no, it's only a 45 litre and not the ideal horizontal turtle tank, but obviously I don't intend it to be their lifetime home. I will upgrade to a 2-3ft 70-150 litre tank once they are of adaqate size, or after about 6 months or so.

I was thinking of getting some guppies, crayfish or snails to add a bit more life to the turtles habitat. I'm not really bothered if they eat them or leave them but I would prefer it if they didn't see them as food.
Have you much experience with turtle/fish relationships?
I know the turtles would most definatly eat the snails. Musks love snails.
Thankyou!

[Dean Cheetham]

musks are a creature of habit i find :p mine love one particular decoration i have in my tank and from the pic's it looks like they might stay there as its close to the surface of the water so they can bask easily and get access to air. so i wouldnt worry to much mate, and srry to jump on the post but fozz i collected all the snails in my tank there is like 50! i will send you some asap because of the strikes or would you rather me wait untill after the strikes?

[diamondwolf130]

Thanks Dean, that is what I had thought. Oh well.

Thinking of buying some catfish or loaches to help keep the tank clean. My musks shouldn't bother these guys should they? Mine are quite shy anyway.
Thanks for your help guys.

[Fozz]

Originally Posted by diamondwolf130

Thanks for your reply Fozz!
My tank isn't big no, it's only a 45 litre and not the ideal horizontal turtle tank, but obviously I don't intend it to be their lifetime home. I will upgrade to a 2-3ft 70-150 litre tank once they are of adaqate size, or after about 6 months or so.

I was thinking of getting some guppies, crayfish or snails to add a bit more life to the turtles habitat. I'm not really bothered if they eat them or leave them but I would prefer it if they didn't see them as food.
Have you much experience with turtle/fish relationships?
I know the turtles would most definatly eat the snails. Musks love snails.
Thankyou!

All my turts live with fish and snails, the snails last around 2 days and get eaten though...... The only occasion I've had of a turt eating a fish was my baby musk that managed to catch a minnow..... I wouldn't recommend guppies or goldfish as these are very 'fatty'.... Minnows are alright, should it manage to catch one, algae eaters move like lightning when they need to so also a good addition to the tank, cleaning it too.....
If you find you have a strange turtle that doesn't eat snails, then you will have hundreds on your hands 'cause they breed like wildfire... Ending up either fishing them all out or setting an assassin snail loose in your tank.....

Originally Posted by Dean Cheetham

musks are a creature of habit i find :p mine love one particular decoration i have in my tank and from the pic's it looks like they might stay there as its close to the surface of the water so they can bask easily and get access to air. so i wouldnt worry to much mate, and srry to jump on the post but fozz i collected all the snails in my tank there is like 50! i will send you some asap because of the strikes or would you rather me wait untill after the strikes?

That's great Dean, it suppose it doesn't really matter, snails can live for weeks without water and very little air...... But send 'em soon as so it takes them off your hands.... Thanks

[connor 1213]

i banged my head looking at the photo


nice wee guy tho!

[diamondwolf130]

Thanks for your help again Fozz! I think I shall get a few Cory Catfish, see how the turts get on with em and then buy a couple more if they get on well! As for snails, it seems a very good idea for me to start a snail population. It'l be up to my turts to keep it under control! XD
Although my girlfriend doesn't like them eating live food. Even silly snails lol.